3/14/2013 |
Team Japan crisp in defeating MLB's GiantsSharpening its skills en route to the World Baseball Classic semifinals in San Francisco, Japan scored in each inning from the third through the sixth Thursday and outlasted the Giants, 6-3.

3/14/2013 |
No soreness for Santos after Minor League testThere's no doubt in Sergio Santos' mind that he'll be ready in time for Opening Day. He threw 18 pitches in one Minor League inning Wednesday and didn't report lingering soreness the following day.

3/14/2013 |
Gee perplexed over wildly disappointing startDillon Gee called it an exhibition in "how not to pitch." Gee's line against the Tigers on Thursday included six runs on four walks, two hit batsmen and three wild pitches. The right-hander came away so disgusted with his outing that he did not even top off his pitch count afterward in the bullpen.

3/14/2013 |
Beast Mode initiated: Morse slugs two homersMichael Morse went 3-for-3 with two homers, a double and five RBIs against the Reds on Thursday. Joe Saunders struggled on the mound, allowing seven runs, five earned, in 3 2/3 innings. The Mariners won the game, 8-7.

3/14/2013 |
Gibson optioned to Triple-A as Twins make cutsFormer first-round Draft pick Kyle Gibson's comeback from elbow surgery will continue at Triple-A Rochester rather than in the Twins' starting rotation as they had hoped, but general manager Terry Ryan predicted Gibson will be back.

3/14/2013 |
Medlen's attention to detail key to his successGenerously listed at 5-foot-10 and not a particularly hard thrower, Kris Medlen is no scout's dream. However, the right-hander's combination of control and smarts has helped him grow into a budding star.

3/14/2013 |
Matheny returns to dugout after back surgeryManager Mike Matheny was back in uniform on Thursday, three days after he underwent surgery to alleviate pain and numbness being caused by a ruptured disc in his lower back.

3/14/2013 |
Wada taking next step in rehabLeft-hander Tsuyoshi Wada, after tossing another encouraging bullpen session on Thursday, will now move on to more pitching-related activities as he continues his extensive rehab from Tommy John surgery last May.

3/14/2013 |
Wieters hits second home run of Spring TrainingIn one of the stranger finishes to a Spring Training game, the Rays defeated the Orioles, 4-3, on Thursday in front of a record sellout crowd of 8,796 fans at Ed Smith Stadium.

3/14/2013 |
Harrell, Bedard show progress after throwingManager Bo Porter said Lucas Harrell and Erik Bedard are both feeling good after throwing Wednesday, and the Astros manager will make a decision soon about when they will continue with game action.

3/14/2013 |
Fighting for fifth-starter job, Niemann strongIn one of the stranger finishes to a Spring Training game, the Rays defeated the Orioles, 4-3, on Thursday in front of a record sellout crowd of 8,796 fans at Ed Smith Stadium.

3/14/2013 |
Maicer, Melky lead Blue Jays' thumping of YanksThe Blue Jays scored early and often against a Yankees pitching staff that had trouble finding the strike zone en route to a 17-5 victory on Thursday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Field.

3/14/2013 |
Inside the visit: Mound conversations vary widelyConversations between skippers or pitching coaches and their players seem to be a source of curiosity for the fans to this day: What the heck do managers and coaches say when they run out to the mound to talk to the pitcher?

3/14/2013 |
Patience with Wall paying off for DodgersPitcher Josh Wall signed young and immature, but he finally answered the wake-up call and grew up, giving the Dodgers something in return for their patience.

3/14/2013 |
'Wrigleyville West' should be a desert gemWhen you drive by the Cubs' new Spring Training site, you'll mostly see a lot of dirt. But on the site, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts sees a great future for the team and the city of Mesa.

3/13/2013 |
Delmon picks up the pace in rehab programOutfielder Delmon Young has picked up his rehab program a bit this week, but there is no change in his timetable, which has him back with the Phillies sometime between mid-April and May 1.

3/13/2013 |
Lee pays price for fielding miscuesThe first three innings for the Phillies in their 6-2 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday could not have been any sloppier. Cliff Lee paid the price, too.

3/13/2013 |
Parra provides lift in return from ClassicIn his first game since going 0-for-8 for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, D-backs outfielder Gerardo Parra drove home three runs in a 7-0 victory over the Brewers.

3/13/2013 |
Respected Meulens has Dutch club believingFormer Major Leaguer Hensley Meulens has two World Series championship rings from the San Francisco Giants, where he's the hitting coach, and now he has the world watching him for the exploits of his unique temporary gig: head honcho of honkbal.